I think Easter is a holiday loved by all young and old. I personally love Easter because it marks a change to my favorite time of year. I think about picnics, barbecues, relaxing in my hammock. For Soeren he likes Easter because of the excitement and fun an Easter hunt brings along with it - and of course the candy, sweets and chocolates.

Does it always have to be tons of sweets and chocolates in the basket? Tom and I discussed this last year and decided to try and create a more or less candy-free Easter basket for Soeren. The result was that he did not even realize that there was less candy in his basket.He was happy with the other items we had placed that the lack of sweet things went unnoticed.

This year we're doing the same thing. We've discussed this with the grandparents and uncles etc. and all have agreed to cut down on their offerings of sweets in Soeren's baskets.

So what are the alternatives that one has? I admit going to the stores becomes a bit of a tough task finding quality items to fill the basket and often I find myself in the chocolate aisle thinking "maybe just this one treat!" It's easier as there is a larger and newer variety every year.Here's what I did this year. I made a list of a few items that Soeren needs and might like to have.The list looks pretty good and I thought I'd share it with you. Maybe you would like to use one of the ideas for your own candy-free basket.

As the weather is only going to get better, Soeren will be spending most of his afternoons outside. Either in our sandbox or with the other kids in the neighborhood. So, I have a beach set on the list with a small rake, spade and bucket. Ball games are popular amongst the kids in the group. So I found a nice ball game where each player attaches a type of Velcro plate to their hands and has to catch a tennis ball with it. Other interesting ideas would be skipping ropes, swim tubes or toys or colored chalks to draw on the sidewalks.

Arts and craft supplies. Paints, markers, crayons, coloring books, stones, shells, beads etc. These are always needed and a great way to spend rainy April days indoors.

Of course the list would not be complete without books. We love books and it is always a part of any gift we give Soeren. There are sets of Encyclopedias for different ages available on the market. Soeren gets one new edition every event. This time we bought him an edition that describes and discovers the five senses.

What about you? What's going into your Easter basket? We would love to hear your ideas and thoughts on this.

Reminder!Our first event on the Daily Tiffin this month is Show Us Your Lunchbox. Hope you will join us and allow us to peak into your lunch. Deadline April 20th.Are you interested in contributing to The Daily Tiffin? Drop us an email: blogmeeta@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing your ideas.

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We went with craft items (stamps and stamp pad, paper, markers, a huge book of great stickers), small water-themed figurines that he can use in the tub (scuba diver, octopus, fish, etc.), bubble-blowing tools, a water bird whistle, and one pack of Skittles, which will be split up among the 12 plastic eggs for his egg hunt.

These are fantastic ideas. Kathy I love the idea for gardening equipment and seeds. What do you think about giving your child a little gardening patch so that he/she can keep up with gardening and see how things grow throughout the year. oh! This is fun!

Last year my children followed a trail of jelly beans to their "presents" - one year it was a treasure hunt that lead to a basket each that included fun bubble bath, a few little candies, markers and the ever important brand new toothbrush!

Kathy, Kathy! I just had to share this. I have made a free space in our garden and set a lovely border around it with colorful stones. This is going to be Soeren's gardening patch. Yesterday I went and bought a few seeds for flowers and vegies. This is going to be Soeren's Easter surprise. It was a magic idea and I give you a huge hug for it.